BINTULU, Aug 13: Sarawak is currently drafting a food security plan to ensure that future food supplies are sufficient, says Minister of Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), he said the plan aims to ensure that future generations have a continuous supply of food in addition to making Sarawak the leading food producer in the country by 2030.
He said previously Sarawak did not have detailed planning to determine the certainty of food security.
“The government intends to determine that we have food security. The purpose is to ensure that our children and great-grandchildren have food and that no one goes hungry.
“What we have to do today is to have a detailed plan, called a masterplan by the ministry, with how we determine the certainty of food safety in the future for our children and great-grandchildren,” he said when officiating at the Agromart owned by Bintulu Farmers’ Cooperative here on Thursday (Aug 11).
Dr Rundi, who is also Kemena assemblyman, further mentioned that farmers and ranchers still use the traditional agriculture methods.
“We still depend on fresh produce and do not think about what if it cannot be sold.
“We must have a food chain from research and development (R&D); seeds, food, poison, and crop production to the downstream process.
“The downstream processing is very important because we want to avoid waste,” he added.
He further gave an example of pineapple, which can only last for around three days on the countertop before it becomes inedible.
Thus, he said, the fruit must be processed in cans to last.
The Sarawak Ministry of Agriculture Modernisation and Regional Development has identified the four most important crops in the State, namely pineapple, banana, durian, and coconut. — DayakDaily
